Date: 1990

Location: Sasolburg, Tranvaal, South Africa

Type of event: exposure to lost source

Description:

A cobalt-60 industrial radiography source was left behind following radiography work, with the operator failing to realize the source was left behind. Six people handled the source for 5 to 20 minutes, three of whom received whole body doses of 10 to 55 rad. One person had to have the right hand amputated above the wrist. Three others suffered skin injuries on the fingers.

Consequences: 4 injuries.

References:

• UNSCEAR, 2000, "Annex E: Occupational radiation exposures," in Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation: United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation UNSCEAR 2000 Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes, Volume I: Sources, UNSCEAR, on line at UNSCEAR [http://www.unscear.org/docs/reports/annexe.pdf].

© 2004, 2006 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 11 June 2006.
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